This book reminded me of why it's important to read reviews before volunteering to read something because I'm not really a fan of paranormal fantasies...which is the main reason I'm trying to be generous with this review.

The Temptation of Magic is a paranormal fantasy that probably falls in the New Adult age range. It also has a lot of fan-favorite tropes, but unfortunately, they were not tropes that I enjoy. Because this was mostly a mistake on my part, I'm trying not to hold it against the book itself that I didn't really enjoy parts of it. I'm sorry.
Nicole is an Empyreal (basically a natural monster hunter who transforms into other monsters to kill) and a Seer who is trying to hide her true nature lest she be taken away by the evil secret government called the Wake. She stumbles across Kyan, an Empyreal from the Wake, and the two have intertwining goals regarding a mysterious piece of artwork and a Specter out for revenge. The pacing was fine, and I thought there were a few plot twists that caught my attention too. The story ends in a way that's both satisfying and opens the series to future installments. Overall, the action and the mystery elements of the plot were what kept me engaged.
My biggest struggle with the book was connecting with the characters, and again, I think it was my fault for not checking the tropes beforehand. I didn't mind Nicole and Kyan's relationship, and I thought their personalities were fairly intriguing. I'm interested in seeing the dynamic between Dylan and Callum develop because I might have been reading it wrong, but I sensed some weird tension between them. I also hope Remi is more relevant in the next book.
Fans of tropes like fated mates, enemies-to-lovers, and protective/broody love interests will enjoy The Temptation of Magic.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the free e-ARC!

3.5/5